Former Lightning first rounder Alex Svitov assisted on both Omsk goals as Karri Ramo notched his 4th shutout of the season. Ramo is now tied for 4th in the league in shutouts behind fellow Lightning prospect V. Koshechkin (7), former NHLer Robert Esche (6), and Yarolslav netminder Georgy Gelashvili (6).

Kazionov played 9:20 in the match and scored his 5th goal of the season, but it wasn't enough to lift Ekaterinburg to victory in a critical battle for the last playoff spot in the KHL's Eastern Conference. Novosibirsk moved into a tie with Ekaterinburg and Khabarovsk at 54 points, but Novosibirsk holds 8th in the conference by virtue of the one game in hand they hold over both clubs. Former Lightning forward Alex Kharitonov had his 3rd goal of the season in the match for Novosibirsk.

Koshechkin notched his league leading 7th shutout of the season to help Magnitogorsk keep pace with Yulaev just 2 points out of first place in the Eastern Conference. Former Lightning draft pick Fedor Fedorov had his 5th goal of the season in the match for Metallurg. Koshechkin is 2nd in the KHL in wins behind only former NHLer Robert Esche (26).

Karsums played 14:55 in the match and was charged with a minor for cross checking and a misconduct in the game. Cherepovets was led by a pair of goals from former NHLer Marcel Hossa, who now leads the league with 29.

There was a little pearl in Erik Erlendsson's blog post about Dustin Tokarski being returned to Norfolk and Riku Helenius being assigned to Sodertalje of the Elitserien. The Lightning are apparently intersted in once again making an attempt to sign Russian star goaltender Vasily Koshechkin, who is currently playing for Magnitogorsk in the KHL. Koshechkin, a mammoth 6'6" netminder who was an 8th round pick in 2002, has 14 shutouts over the past two seasons, and arguably has been the best netminder in Russia over the past four seasons. The Lightning made multiple attempts to sign Koshechkin when Jay Feaster was the team's GM, but Koshechkin always chose to remain in Russia. Will Koshechkin, who turns 27 in March, now try his hand at the best hockey league in the world?

The post also mentions the possibility of Karri Ramo returning from Omsk of the KHL as well. Ramo has one more year remaining on his deal with Avangard, but he has an NHL out clause for a signing window this summer. It is believed Koshechkin will be a free agent this summer after he signed with Magnitogorsk earlier this year when his original deal with his longtime club Togliatti was voided after Lada couldn't meet payroll on multiple occassions.

Harju took a minor for diving after being held up by Oleg Kvasha and was 25% on draws in 16:11 of ice time. Former Lightning draft pick Vadim Epanchintsev had a pair of helpers in the match for Mytischi.